Truss beam attachment apparatus

Abstract

The invention relates to a connective apparatus between a truss beam and another object, e.g., a second truss beam or another device, for rigidly joining the two together. The connective apparatus comprises a unitary attachment device which is connected to one of the frame elements in a truss beam. The device includes a rabbet member capable of attachment to a pair of struts of the frame element and a connector member attached to the rabbet member. A connector strut is provided for joining two or more truss beams to each other by interconnecting two nodes of the respective beams.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus adapted for rigidly attaching a first truss beam of the type having a multilateral cross-section to a second truss beam oriented at a non-zero angle relative to said first truss beam, each of said beams being constructed of a plurality of triangular frame elements, each of said frame elements comprising first, second, and third multiple struts interconnected by means of first, second, and third vertex fittings disposed at first, second, and third vertices respectively of said frame element, a said first vertex fitting of one of said frame elements being connected to a said second vertex fitting of another frame element and a said third vertex fitting of still another frame element, said apparatus comprising: a first rabbet member having first and second opposed surfaces and a plurality of side surfaces extending therebetween, a first and a second one of said side surfaces each adapted for connection to a different one of said first, second and third struts and facing in a direction generally opposite to the direction of a third one of said side surfaces;   a generally slab-like connector member having first and second substantially parallel opposed surfaces and including multiple connecting means for connecting multiple objects thereto; and   means associated with said third side surface and with one of said multiple connecting means for attaching said rabbet member to said connector member to form an attachment device, said attachment device adapted to replace one of said vertex fittings.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said attachment device is positioned at said first vertex of at least one frame element of said first truss beam and further including means for attaching two of said first, second and third struts of said at least one frame element to said first and second rabbet side surfaces, respectively; and said connector member further including means for rigidly joining said attachment device to second and third frame elements of said first truss beam at the second and third vertex fittings respectively of said second and third frame elements.   
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for rigidly joining said attachment device includes a centrally positioned through hole in said connector member communicating between said connector first and second opposed surfaces, said through hole being capable of receiving an elongate pin attachable at opposite ends thereof to said second and third vertex fittings of said second and third frame elements respectively, said attachment device and second and third vertex fittings forming a node of said truss beam. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said connector member has a thickness dimension defined by the mutual spacing of said substantially parallel first and second opposed surfaces, and said connector member further includes at least one connector side surface extending between said connector first and second opposed surfaces; said means for joining said connector and rabbet members to each other comprising a slot in said third rabbet side surface extending between said rabbet first and second opposed surfaces, said slot being configured to accept said connector member in the thickness dimension of the latter and to provide a close fit therewith.   
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said connector member is configured as a disk having a continuous peripheral side surface. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said multiple connecting means are spaced around said peripheral side surface, said disk being dimensioned to accept a plurality of substantially identical rabbet members. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said connector member has at least three identically dimensioned, planar connector side surfaces extending between said connector first and second opposed surfaces. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second truss beam includes at least one elongate connector strut having a free end and further including a second rabbet member similar to said first rabbet member connected to said free end of said elongate connector strut; and at least one of said multiple connecting means of said connector member being formed for attachment to said rabbet member in which said elongate connector strut terminates.   
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said at least one elongate connector strut free end comprises: an axial shaft bore;   a connector pin including a free pin end, said connector pin slidably engaging said shaft bore, and being capable of completely retracting therewithin; and   means for selectively extending said free pin end out of said shaft bore.   
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said shaft bore is closed at one end thereof; and said means for selectively extending said free pin end includes a compression spring positioned between an end of said connector pin opposite said free pin end and a closed end of said shaft bore of said elongate connector strut.   
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 9 and further including means for preventing said connector pin from rotating within said shaft bore. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said second rabbet side surface includes a connecting hole adapted for receiving said connector pin and wherein said means for selectively extending said free pin end out of said shaft bore includes means for engaging said connecting hole for attachment to said second rabbet member.   
     
     
       13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said free pin end and said second rabbet member each include a through hole transverse to the axis of said connector pin, said through holes being located for alignment with each other; and said apparatus further including a dowel for insertion into said aligned through holes to releasably attach said additional rabbet member and said connector struts to each other.   
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said shaft bore is closed at one end thereof; and said means for selectively extending said free pin end includes a compression spring positioned between an end of said connector pin opposite said free pin end and a closed end of said shaft bore of said elongate connector strut.   
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 12 and further including means for preventing said connector pin from rotating within said shaft bore.